Though I've heard different variations of this quote over this years, for some reason, this one really stood out. This may sound silly/crazy, but when I'm in the car by myself, I pour my heart out to God. It's really the only 'quiet time' I get during the day. I talk to Him, I pray (with my eyes on the road, of course!), and I...complain. I realized that today as I was driving, every word that exited my mouth was a complaint. Then, I started to think about all of those who were never given the opportunity to live in today. I got angry at myself...for trying to be so optimistically introspective. In that moment, I wanted more than anything to be selfish, I wanted to be self-seeking, I wanted to be all about me. Yuck! That "humanness" I mentioned last time was coming out again and it was u.g.l.y. As I went about my day, I tried to counter each negative with a positive. I know, I know, I know that God does not put us where He cannot reach us, but oh my gosh, that's so hard to hold onto when you want to be negative. That ugly part of me wanted to have something to complain about when in reality, there's so much to be thankful, so much goodness just waiting to be discovered.
Now, I'm going to be brutally honest and say that I really got on my own nerves with this whole positive/negative countering thing. I never want to be cliche and I definitely never want to be one of those unrealistically optimistic people. We all know that one person who is constantly chipper, constantly talking about how wonderful life is. You know the ones you just want to look at and say, "Are you for real?". Now don't get me wrong, I love talking about how wonderful life is and what a blessing it is (because it is), but I also realize that what we need more than anything is to be real with each other, to be real with ourselves, and to be real with God. If life were always wonderful, if it always went according to our plans, there would be no need for dependence on each other and even worse, there would be no need for dependence on God. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm realizing to be thankful for not only the positives, but the negatives as well. Ugh, that is so hard to even type! Will I still complain about being stressed? Yes. Will I still complain about people that get on my nerves? Yes. Will I still complain about getting out of bed in the morning? Yes. After all, I'm only human, but you know what? In my weakness, He is stronger. If we let Him, God can turn our complaints into praises, our tears into joy, and our hatred and resentment into love. It's a messy process, but isn't life messy to begin with?:)
One of my favorite passages of Scripture is found in Ecclesiastes 3. It says:
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heavens:
A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.A time to kill, and a time to heal.A time to break down, and a time to build up. A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather them together. A time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate. A time of war, and a time of peace."
So you see, there is a season, a meaning, and a time for everything. The things you complain about today, could be the very things you're giving praise for tomorrow. Never think for a moment that your life is spinning out of control or that you can't handle another day. That is a lie. God will never, ever, ever forsake you. If God can keep each the planets spinning in orbit at a very precise tilt, then I'm pretty sure...no, I'm positive, He can hold your life together. Remember, for everything, there is a season. Don't give up. Don't lose hope. Don't give in to the negativity. Things only last for a season and when nights seem long keep in mind that His joy comes with the morning:)
Until next time...
ME
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